Few things are worse than your vehicle suddenly stalling and sputtering out on you as you are traveling down the road. The problem isn’t just the danger you face in a broken car, but having to get it fixed, too. How can you be sure of which mechanic is best? Use the following tips to find the right auto repair service.

Check out your mechanic to see if he is A.S.E. certified before allowing him to do any work on your vehicle. The basis of this certification is that your mechanic has over two years of experience and they have passed appropriate testing. That way, you can have the best mechanics working on your car.

Invest in high-quality battery chargers and keep them inside your car. Dead batteries are pretty common and you can help others if you own a battery charger. Learn how to find connection points so that you can use the charger with ease.

Each time you get your vehicle repaired, no matter what the reason, be sure you have a record of it. This will help the technician when you get future repairs on your car. Not maintaining these records will likely mean you have to spend more money because diagnosing the problem will be harder for the mechanic to do.

Always be prepared for a flat tire by having a spare tire, jack and tire iron in your vehicle at all times. The majority of new cars have them automatically. This way you won’t get stuck anywhere and need to pay someone to tow you. It’s less of a headache and cheaper to do it by yourself.

Be careful that your mechanic does not attempt to perform unneeded repairs. Make sure that you give your approval first before a repair is done. Don’t return to mechanics that do unnecessary repairs.

Put together an auto repair kit and keep it in your car. These tools should include a tire changing kit, which comes in most cars. A good lug wrench and jack are key. You may ask want to get a variety of screwdrivers, ratchets, socket wrenches and the like. Don’t waste your money on bad quality tools. Instead, buy better quality, sturdy tools that will not break when you need them to repair something.

Ask for labor rates or prices before hiring a mechanic. Some shops have these costs in conspicuous places, so you need to carefully read and ask any questions you have if something doesn’t make sense. You need to understand how and why you are being billed for your car repairs. Some mechanics bill you for estimated labor times established by the manufacturers they work with. Minor repairs can be considered jobs that require a full day of work to some manufacturers.

Try to find out what is causing the a problem with your vehicle before taking it to the shop. If you know what the problem is, you can save money and also easily identify any repair shop that is trying to scam you. As you have likely heard, some mechanics will lie about the problem in order to make more money.

Keep washing your vehicle, even in winter. While you may not see the need, winter is by far the harshest season for cars. The sand and salt from winter leads to rust and abrasion. Be certain to dry your car completely before driving again, so that icing does not occur.

Selecting the best mechanic is not easy. The right advice can make a world of difference in making your choice much easier. Your experience will clearly be better when you know exactly what to ask and what you need to expect. Keep the advice from this article in mind the next time you have car trouble.

Ask your mechanic if he’s worked on a vehicle similar to yours. Different cars require different skill sets. If you don’t think the shop you are going to really knows what they are doing, take your car to the dealer instead.